Resuscitator



T. E, CKLEN RESUSCITATOR Filed Sept. 13. 1934 2 sheets-Sheet l T. E. ACKLEN RESUSG ITATOR Filed Sept. 13. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE RESUSCITATOR Thomas E. Acklen, Memphis, Tenn. Application September 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,802

2 Claims.

This invention relates .to .improvements in resuscitators and has particular .reference to a means for reestablishing a chest movement in a person who has stopped breathing whereby to set up'a similar movement in the lungs either to directly induce restoration of breathing or to aid in inducing restoration where oxygen is supplied by additional apparatus.

It is well known that a person w'hovis apparently drowned or suffocated may be restored to life provided the lungs can be induced to draw in and subsequently expel air, or its life giving constituent, oxygen.

It is also well known that there is difficulty in re-establishing such lung action, and numerous expedients have been adopted in order to alternate the contraction and expansion of the lungs to accomplish such results.

The objects of the present invention are to 2O make a simple and eicient device which will aid in the accomplishment of this purpose.

The means by which this and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification on reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the device in position for use on a patient and the method of operating the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the handie of the device in elevation and contiguous parts thereof in'section.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slight modification.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a ball type of valve forming a portion of the device, and

Fig. 5 a similar sectional elevation showing a disk or feather type of valve.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, I0 isa sheet of soft and very pliable rubber usually rectangular in shape and l5 to 18 inches square. This sheet of rubber is centrally apertured and over this aperture a flanged cup I I is inverted. This cup is of flexible but much heavier rubber than the sheet IB. The ange I2 of the cup is integral with the cup and is integral or cemented and sealed to the sheet IU around the periphery of the opening in said sheet. The opening through the sheet IIJ and into the cup I I may be protected if desired by a sheet of gauze I3, which, preferably on account of strength and cleanliness, is woven of fine non-corrosive wire.

The inverted bottom I4 of the cup II is aper- (Cl. B58-30') tured to permit engagement and securing of a handle I5. This handle has a grip portion I6, preferably of such cross section and shape as to admit a controlled grip thereof by the hand of the operator, and carries an integral disk shaped 5 plate I'I of substantially the same outer diameter as the bottom I 4 of the cup, the plate l'l being apertured to conform to the aperture in such bottom. I8 is a circular disk disposed within the cup, this disk having an integral centrally 10 disposed boss I9 conforming in exterior diameter to the openings in the bottom Ill and the plate II, and adapted to project upward through such openings. The projecting portion of the boss I9 is exteriorly threaded to receive a clamping nut 15 20, by means of which the handle is securely clamped to the bottom of the cup. If desired, the disk I8 may be provided with a plurality of lugs 2| to assist in anchoring the disk to the cup. The boss I9 is chambered out to receive a valve 20 assembly which may comprise a seat 22 and a cooperating ball valve 23. 24 is an opening leading through the disk 2| into this chamber. 25

is a cage for the ball 23, and 26 is a transverse pin or bar carried by the cage for limiting up- 25 ward movement of the ball. 2l and 28 are communicating openings through the cage and nut 20 respectively.

In Fig. 5 the chamber in the boss I9 is provided with a valve seat 22A preferably slightly convex 30 upon which a thin, flat disk or feather valve 3l) is adapted to seat. Movement of the disk is limited by a member 3| the bottom of which is provided with cross grooves 32 to permit escape of air around the disk.

24, 2'I and 28 are, as before described, communicating passageways through the disk I8, member 3|, and clamping nut 2li. In this figure the feather valve 30 is shown raised from the seat 22A for purposes of clearness. Both types of valve permit air escape from the cup but prevent air return thereto.

Disposed over the soft rubber sheet I0 is a keeper 40 of heavier and stronger, though withal flex- 45 ible, material, this keeper being apertured to permit the extension of the cup therethrough. Preferably the keeper is provided with a metal stiifening ring 4I which may be circular in cross section or of annular disk form MA as shown 50 in Fig. 3. The underside of the keeper and of the reinforcing ring, or disk as the case may be, is preferably covered by a fabric sheet 42 which, preferably also, is cemented to the keeper 40 radially inward or outward from the ring or the 55 disk as the case may be.

Integral with or securely attached to the keeper are straps 43 which are adapted to be passed around the body of the patient, these preferably being each provided with a buckle 44 by means of which when so passed around the body it may be secured.

In use the device is placed on the front of the patients body, usually over the lower ribs. The straps are passed around the body and buckled. Such other ancillary steps are taken such as partially closing the lower jaw to establish freer passageways through the throat and treatment is begun.

The grip I6 of the handle l5 is rmly grasped and pushed downward, collapsing the cup l I and expelling the air therefrom through the passageways and valve in the cup bottom. Such movement is continued to collapse the chest as far as possible and drive air from the lungs. Reverse movement is then effected and the handle pulled upward lifting the rib structure and the stomach wall thereadjacent. These movements are accomplished in a slow steady beat of from 18 to 20 strokes to the minute, conforming as nearly as possible to normal breathing, and the operation is kept up until breathing is reestablished or it becomes evident that this cannot be done.

I claim:

1. A resuscitation apparatus, comprising a cup of impervious resilient material, said cup having a check valve adjacent the bottom thereof, said valve being effective to permit discharge only from said cup, a handle secured to said bottom, an outwardly anged rim, surrounding the top of said cup and integral therewith, a sheet of soft pliable rubber surrounding and sealed to said ange and forming an extension thereof, a keeper disposed around said cup and over said flange and extension, and strap members disposable around the body of a patient for securing said apparatus in place.

2. A resuscitation apparatus, including an inverted vacuum cup, a handle member and a valve effective to permit discharge only from said cup; said cup being of impervious material, having an apertured, substantially at bottom, outwardly flaring side walls and a substantially flat ange surrounding and extending laterally outward from the lip of said cup, said bottom, side Walls and flange being integral with each other, and said side wall and flange being resilient; and each of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said handle including a grip portion, a flange portion secured to said grip portion and substantially coextensive with said cup bottom, and means for securing and sealing said bottom to said handle ange; said handle flange being apertured to conform with said bottom, said valve being carried by said handle and controlling said handle and cup apertures,

THOMAS E. ACKLEN. 

